Automatic homing slide track device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an automatic homing slide track device which comprises: a bottom track and a slide track provided with a push rod protruding from one side; a control base comprising a spring groove and an actuating slide way with a slot defined at the front end; a slide/swing unit with a slide member and a swing member joining each other wherein the swing member is provided with a clasper at the front end and an actuating part at the rear end on which there is at least a second actuating groove designed at the front part; a flexible member allowing its front and rear ends to be fixed on the slide member&#39; and the spring groove&#39;s rear ends, respectively. The abovementioned push rod can enter the second actuating groove of the swing member and slide and deflect the swing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic homing device,particularly an automatic homing slide track device featuring a compactstructure for correct steady operations and simple operation steps fortroubleshooting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cabinet lockers or drawers have been extensively applied in variousstorage implements. To realize a cabinet locker (drawer) which isconveniently pulled out, those slide tracks with functions forpositioning and guidance are usually integrated into both laterals of acabinet locker (drawer). For stable close of a cabinet locker (drawer),the slide tracks are further integrated with an automatic homingstructure which allows the cabinet locker (drawer) arriving at a rearpart to be pulled and automatically move backward until a stable closestate. As shown in Patent No. M349712 for a slide track's automatichoming technique based on prior arts, the automatic homing slide trackdevice comprises: (a) a bottom track with an inner track whichoppositely slides on the bottom track; (b) a control device comprising acontrol base and a slide cover: (b.1) the control base which is fixed onthe bottom track is provided with a buffer member and at least a springwherein the buffer member has a dry rubber damping buffer stick and thespring links between the control base and the slide cover; (b.2) thecontrol base further comprises an extended control tab with a concaveguide groove wherein the guide groove is provided with a slot at therear lateral side and a slanted guide groove at the other rear lateralend of the slot; (b.3) the slide cover moves to cap the control base andcomprises a buffering tube, which is used to link the dry rubber dampingbuffer stick, and a first spin groove (front) as well as a second spingroove (rear) at the rear part; (c) a swing member installed in theslide cover and comprising (c.1) a first actuating block with its frontend held in the first spin groove, (c.2) a second actuating block withits rear part held in the second spin groove, and (c.3) an insert partunderneath embedded in the guide groove; (d) a linkage member fixed inthe inner track and provided with (d.1) a convex stopping part includinga lateral-accommodating concave part at the rear end and (d.2) a forwardthrust part at the front end.

Despite an automatic homing effect for opening and closing, theautomatic homing slide track device based on prior arts still has somedrawbacks, for instance, a control base is installed on a bottom base toaccommodate some components, e.g., spring and buffer member, andposition and slide the slide cover; the control base is provided withthe slot and the slanted guide groove at the rear end of the concaveguide groove for deflecting the swing member which has been held in theslide cover; the inner track is provided with a corresponding linkagemember on which there are a convex stopping part, alateral-accommodating concave part and a forward thrust part installedfor linking and controlling the swing member. As such, the automatichoming slide track device becomes a considerably complicated assemblywhich apparently increases costs in manufacture, assembly andmaintenance, comprises complex faulty components threatening economicbenefits, and is not an ideal design obviously. Additionally, theposition of the linkage member relative to the swing member which isdriven by the linkage member on the inner track might be deviated due tocollision or vibration during operation of the inner track; the swingmember which is pulled by the spring at the slide cover automaticallymoves forward, gets out of control of the linkage member, and causesfailure of the cabinet's automatic homing function which is not repairedby a user's simple operation and deserves to be corrected or prevented.Other drawbacks of the automatic homing slide track device necessary tobe corrected are: a complicated automatic homing slide track deviceoccupies a large operating space and is disadvantageous to applicationof a specific cabinet (e.g., refrigerator crisper); a refrigeratorfrosts when moisture in ambient air permeating a crisper or attachingslide tracks during an open/close operation of the refrigerator crisperis cooled; an automatic homing slide track device based on prior artsfrosts or has dust accumulated. As a result, it is necessary to corrector overcome above drawbacks of prior automatic homing slide trackdevices by the persons skilled in the arts.

Accordingly, the inventor having considered imperfects of priorautomatic homing slide tracks in manufacture, assembly, maintenance andstructure and attempted to optimize the automatic homing slide trackdevice with features such as convenient manufacture and assembly,economic stable operation, and serviceability in refrigerator crispershas studied and developed a solution for serving the general public andpromoting development of the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic homingslide track device which features a compact automatic homing slide trackfor correct stable operations, components simply and quicklyassembled/disassembled, reduced manufacture, assembly and maintenancecosts, and positive economic benefits.

The other object of the present invention is to provide an automatichoming slide track device which features a low failure rate and simpleoperation steps preventing the present invention from accident-inducedtroubles or inconvenience of follow-up usage and maintenance.

The further object of the present invention is to provide an automatichoming slide track device which is applicable to a special cabinet suchas refrigerator crisper, minimizes drawbacks like frosting andaccumulated dust, and promotes quality of one refrigerator.

With some techniques used to achieve the above objects, the presentinvention comprises: (a) a bottom track with a bottom track space; (b) aslide track moving in the bottom track space of the bottom track andprovided with a push rod protruding from one side; (c) a control basefixed on the bottom track and comprising a spring groove at the rearpart and an actuating slide way at the front part on which there is aslot defined at the front end; (d) a slide/swing unit installed in theactuating slide way of the control base and comprising a slide memberand a swing member, both of which join each other and slidesynchronously: the swing member which is installed at the front end ofthe slide member has a clasper and an actuating part at its front andrear parts respectively wherein the actuating part is provided with atleast a second actuating groove at the front end; (e) a flexible memberheld in the control base's spring groove and allowing its front and rearends to be fixed on the slide member's and the spring groove's rearends, respectively. In the previous structure, the push rod enters thesecond actuating groove of the swing member to slide and deflect theswing member and make the clasper withheld in the slot.

For technical features and effects in terms of the present disclosurecompletely understood and recognized, the preferred embodiments anddetailed drawings are described hereinafter:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a partial exploded view illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the present invention which hasbeen assembled.

FIG. 5A is a schematic illustration of the present invention which ispulled forward.

FIG. 5B is a schematic illustration of the present invention which ispushed backward.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the present invention fortroubleshooting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3A which illustrate the presentinvention of an automatic homing slide track device comprises a bottomtrack 10, a slide track 20, a control base 30, a slide/swing unit 40 anda flexible member 50. The bottom track 10 comprises a mounted plate 11and a bottom track space 12 wherein the mounted plate 11 has mountingholes 111 used to fix the automatic homing slide track device on acabinet wall (not shown in figures) such as refrigerator's inner wall, afront pilot hole 112 and a rear pilot hole 113. The slide track 20 whichis fixed on a locker or a cabinet (not shown in figures) and oppositelyslides on the bottom track 10 comprises (a) a slide track part 21installed on one flank (e.g., bottom) and embedded in the bottom trackspace 12 for corresponding slide or movement and (b) a push rod 22properly protruding from one flank of the slide track 20; the slidetrack 20 further comprises a two-track device, i.e., inner track andouter track, for an extended length in one embodiment.

The control base 30 comprises a mounted plate 31 extending at the frontend and a mounted plate 32 extending at the rear end wherein a mountinghole 311 and a mounting hole 321 are opened on the two mounted plates,respectively; the control base 30 is fixed on the mounted plate 11 ofthe bottom track 10 by bolts 312, 322 penetrating the mounting holes311, 321 and their corresponding holes such as front pilot hole 112 andrear pilot hole 113 on the bottom track 10. The control base 30 alsocomprises a main base plate 301 and a spring groove 33 at the rear partand an actuating slide way 34 at the front part, both of which link eachother: the spring groove 33 is a U-shaped groove enclosed by the mainbase plate 301 and two lateral end sheets 332, 333 and provided with afastening part 331 at the rear end; the slightly winding actuating slideway 34 is a double U-shaped groove enclosed by the end sheet 332, themain base plate 301, the end sheet 333 and an extender 341 and providedwith a baffle 342 at the rear end as a fallback of the slide/swing unit40 during a reverse movement. A through window 343 is opened on the mainbase plate 301 of the control base 30 and opposite to the actuatingslide way 34; a stopper 344 is designed on the front end of the throughwindow 343 and extends backward; a slot 345 is developed at the frontend of the actuating slide way 34 (the control base 30). The slide/swingunit 40 which is held in the actuating slide way 34 of the control base30 comprises a slide member 41 and a swing member 42, both of which joineach other and slide synchronously: the slide member 41 is provided witha positioning part 411 at the rear end and a pin joint part 412 at thefront end on which there is a pivot 413; the swing member 42 installedat the front end of the slide member 41 is provided with a joint hole421 at the rear end and an end part 422 at the front end wherein thejoint hole 421 is coupled with the pivot 413 of the slide member 41 andthe end part 422 has a slanted guide plane 422 a, front low and backhigh, and a convex clasper 423 at one flank. Furthermore, a separator424 between front and rear ends of the swing member 42 comprises a firstactuating groove 425 and a second actuating groove 426 at its front endand rear end, respectively; an actuating channel 427 is developed amongthe first actuating groove 425, the second actuating groove 426 and theseparator 424 of the swing member 42. In this embodiment, the actuatingchannel 427 of the swing member 42 is positioned at the side near to theend sheet 332 so that an offset design is considered in a movement pathat which the actuating channel 427 (second actuating groove 426) isopposite to the joint hole 421 (pivot 413); an actuating part 428 of theswing member 42 is developed at the rear end of the second actuatinggroove 426; both the slide member 41 and the swing member 42 held in theactuating slide way 34 attaches the main base plate 301 and are confinedby the end sheet 332, the end sheet 333 and the extender 341.

The flexible member 50 which is held in the spring groove 33 of thecontrol base 30 is considered as one spring and described in thisembodiment and is provided with shrink parts 51, 52 at its front andrear ends wherein the shrink parts 51, 52 are coupled with thepositioning part 411 of the slide member 41 and the fastening part 331at the rear end of the control base 30 (spring groove 33) respectively,so as to hold the flexible member 50 between the rear end of the controlbase 30 and the slide member 41 (FIG. 4) and pull the slide member 41(slide/swing unit 40). As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention of anassembled automatic homing slide track device allows the push rod 22 ofthe slide track 20 to enter the second actuating groove 426 of the swingmember 42 and slide and swing the slide/swing unit 40.

Referring to FIGS. 5An and 5B which illustrate the push rod 22 of theslide track 20 moving forward with a pulled locker drives the swingmember 42 (slide/swing unit 40) onward and further pulls the flexiblemember 50 due to the slide member 41. When the pulled swing member 42arrives at the slot 345 at the front end of the actuating slide way 34(control base 30), the swing member 42 under application of a pull onthe slide track 20 and the push rod 22 will deflects because the endpart 422 at the front end of the swing member 42 is not against theactuating slide way 34; the deflected swing member 42 under the pullapplied on the flexible member 50 allows the clasper 423 of the swingmember 42 to be withheld in the slot 345 and stays in a steady statetemporarily. The push rod 22 moving forward departs from the secondactuating groove 426, continuing its movement along the actuatingchannel 427 and totally leaving the swing member 42 and the control base30 so that the slide track 20 (locker) is driven onward until acompletely stretchable status. In a reverse movement, the slide track 20of the locker moving in a reverse direction allows the push rod 22 topass the actuating channel 427 of the swing member 42, enter the secondactuating groove 426, and continuously drive the actuating part 428 sothat the swing member 42 separates itself from deflection and theclasper 423 of the swing member 42 is not withheld by the slot 345; theslide/swing unit 40 completes automatic homing under a pull of theflexible member 50 and the slide member 41 finally arrives and stops atthe baffle 342 to finish an automatic homing operation with the lockerpushed backward.

Referring to FIG. 6 which illustrates a troubleshooting procedure forthe present invention. The push rod 22 of the slide track 20 sufferingfrom vibration, collision, or error in operation during opening orclosing a locker might immediately deflect from the actuating channel427 and allows the slide/swing unit 40 pulled by the flexible member 50to move back in a very short time. In this context, the fact that thepush rod 22 which keeps at the front end of the non-deflected swingmember 42 neither enters the actuating channel 427 nor continuescontrolling the swing member 42 (slide/swing unit 40) is considered asfailure of automatic homing. Accordingly, the locker should be pushed inorder to make the push rod 22 along the slanted guide plane 422 a forcethe swing member 42. With simple steps to complete troubleshooting, thismechanism to press and sink the swing member 42 based on the throughwindow 343 allows the push rod 22 to enter the actuating channel 427until the second actuating groove 426 and resume the push rod 22 in aproper position. In addition, the stopper 344 at the front end of thethrough window 343 can resume a proper position and status of the sunkenswing member 42 by thrusting the swing member 42.

According to previous descriptions, the present invention of anautomatic homing slide track device features a compact overall structurefor correct stable operations, components simply and quickly assembledor disassembled, reduced manufacture, assembly and maintenance costs,and positive economic benefits. Furthermore, the simple operation stepsprevent the present invention from accident-induced troubles orinconvenience of follow-up usage and maintenance. The present inventionwith the above structure is applicable to a special cabinet such asrefrigerator crisper, minimizes drawbacks like frosting and accumulateddust, and promotes quality of one refrigerator.

It can be seen from the above descriptions that the present inventionsignificantly meets patentability and is applied for the patent.However, the above descriptions present preferred embodiments only whichdo not limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent changeor improvement based on shapes, structures, features and spiritmentioned in the present invention should be incorporated in claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic homing slide track devicecomprising: A bottom track with a bottom track space; A slide trackmoving in said bottom track space of said bottom track and comprising apush rod protruding from one side of said slide track; A control basefixed on said bottom track and comprising a spring groove at the rearpart and an actuating slide way at the front part on which there is aslot defined at the front end; A slide/swing unit installed in anactuating slide way of said control base and comprising a slide memberand a swing member joining each other and sliding synchronously whereinsaid swing member is installed at the front end of said slide member andprovided with (a) a clasper at the front part and (b) an actuating partat the rear part on which there is at least a second actuating groove atthe front part; A flexible member installed in said spring groove ofsaid control base and allowing its front and read ends to be fixed onsaid slide member's and said spring groove's rear ends, respectively; Inthe abovementioned structure, said push rod enters said second actuatinggroove of said swing member to slide and deflect said swing member sothat said deflected swing member makes said clasper withheld in saidslot.
 2. The automatic homing slide track device according to claim 1wherein said control base comprises a main base plate and said springgroove is one groove enclosed by said main base plate and two lateralend sheets of said main base plate and is provided with a fastening partfixing said flexible member at the rear end.
 3. The automatic homingslide track device according to claim 2 wherein said actuating slide wayis a double U-shaped groove enclosed by said main base plate, said twoend sheets and an extender.
 4. The automatic homing slide track deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said actuating slide way is provided with abaffle at the rear end as a fallback of said slide/swing unit during areverse movement.
 5. The automatic homing slide track device accordingto claim 2 wherein said main base plate is provided with a throughwindow which is opposite to said actuating slide way.
 6. The automatichoming slide track device according to claim 5 wherein said throughwindow's front end extends backward to develop a stopper.
 7. Theautomatic homing slide track device according to claim 1 wherein saidslide member is provided with a positioning part at the rear end whichis used to fix said flexible member.
 8. The automatic homing slide trackdevice according to claim 1 wherein said swing member has an end part atthe front part which is used to develop said clasper and a slanted guideplane, front low and back high.
 9. The automatic homing slide trackdevice according to claim 1 wherein said swing member has a separator,which is located at the front end of said second actuating groove andfurther comprises a first actuating groove at the front part, and anactuating channel among said second actuating groove, said firstactuating groove and said separator.
 10. The automatic homing slidetrack device according to claim 9 wherein said actuating channel has anoffset design in a movement path at which said slide member joins saidswing member.